Egg Drop Soup


Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free

Meal Type
Dinner
Cuisine
Chinese
Author
thewoksoflife.com
Serves
4
Preparation Time
5 minutes
Cooking Time
10 minutes

Ingredients

Soup Base

  • 4 cups prepared chicken stock or (6tsp stock powder in 4 cups water.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Thickener & Filler

  • ¼ cup cornstarch (40g) mixed with ½ cup cold water
  • 3 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1 scallion, chopped

optional

  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • 5 drops yellow food coloring or large pinch of turmeric powder(optional, but if you want the look)

Instructions

  1. Make up your stock with boiling water from a fresh kettle to save time, measure out and prepare all other ingredients because this soup goes together fast.
  2. Add the seasonings to the hot stock and stir to form the soup base (add colouring or turmeric now if using), reduce heat to medium to complete the following steps.
  3. Ensure the cornstarch is completely dissolved in the cold water before adding it to the soup. Add the starch slurry by pouring it slowly into the stock while stirring continuously, it will thicken very quickly but you want to avoid the cornstarch turning into clumps.
  4. Beat the eggs and pour into the stock in a large slow spiral, a thin but constantly moving stream will allow the eggs to cook immediately on contact with the soup, but will avoid clumps.
  5. Add any extra flavours, scallions, coriander, chili flakes and serve hot.

Notes

  • This really is a fabulous little soup, very quick and soothing, it keeps well in the fridge and does not deteriorate when reheated in the microwave later.
  • Most of the flavours are quite mellow and can be easily substituted (especially if you are one of those unfortunate souls to which coriander is utterly repugnant...) The real flavour of the soup is determined by the stock, solve that problem and everything else in negotiable :)
  • I know we are vegan now, but if you ever get to do our food forest, and rescue any old battery hens for the property, I may keep this recipe encase there is an egg surplus... it is a really great soup if you eat eggs... and i currently can't get my dog to eat them instead of canned animal death... :(